DOE announces expansion of reliable energy access
On July 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced partnerships with several energy utilities to redevelop portions of DOE’s Paducah Site into a data center campus accompanied by new affordable, reliable energy infrastructure across Kentucky. As one of the largest privately funded investments in Kentucky’s history, the $100 billion investment is expected to create approximately 8,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs, as well as secure the nation’s artificial intelligence future.
“The U.S. government is leveraging its assets, like our federal lands, to add power generation, create jobs and ensure the United States wins the AI race,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The President’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge ensures America can build the energy infrastructure needed to power the AI revolution while lowering electricity costs for American families and businesses. By transforming former DOE sites into engines of innovation and economic growth, we can revitalize communities with increased tax revenue and thousands of jobs, while also strengthening America’s energy security.”
The project’s generation and storage capacity would exceed the campus’s energy needs, allowing excess electricity to be delivered to the regional grid, helping reduce energy costs and provide reliable energy for American families and businesses.
